In a statement to Emirates News Agency (WAM), Shaikh Saud said that the decision coincides with the UAE’s 43rd National Day celebrations, and comes in recognition of the role played by Shaikh Mohammad as a successful leader.

I recently saw a picture of a major Dubai sheikh with three brothers, who are high-ranking Abu Dhabi sheikhs. The Dubai sheikh had one man's hand in a handshake, and was holding the another man by the wrist/forearm.

Can anyone explain the gesture of holding another person by the wrist while their hand remains passive versus shaking or holding hands? Do older people only do this to younger? Is there a power differential implied? Do hosts do this with their guests?

I recently saw a picture of a major Dubai sheikh with three brothers, who are high-ranking Abu Dhabi sheikhs. The Dubai sheikh had one man's hand in a handshake, and was holding the another man by the wrist/forearm.

Can anyone explain the gesture of holding another person by the wrist while their hand remains passive versus shaking or holding hands? Do older people only do this to younger? Is there a power differential implied? Do hosts do this with their guests?

In the UAE handshake is more soft and takes longer and often the second hand comprises the wrist of the other man. It is also common to see men walking hand in hand in public just because of close friendship. It has not the same meaning as in European countries.

Can anybody please explain who is Sheikha Wejdan, (wejdan_mr on Instagram). Futtaim wishes her today in an Instagram post with a caption so confusing, it gives me hint Wejdan is Sheikha Hind. I'm assuming Wejdan may be her pen name/pseudo-name/nick name, etc. Also, contributing to my confusion is the date today i.e. 12th Feb which is supposedly Sheikha Hind's birthday. Speculations suggest Wejdan is also a daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. But how?

I don't understand if Wejdan is a daughter actually and not Sheikha Hind, why is her name not on the list of official children of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid? What is wrong with this family?

Can anybody please explain who is Sheikha Wejdan, (wejdan_mr on Instagram). Futtaim wishes her today in an Instagram post with a caption so confusing, it gives me hint Wejdan is Sheikha Hind. I'm assuming Wejdan may be her pen name/pseudo-name/nick name, etc. Also, contributing to my confusion is the date today i.e. 12th Feb which is supposedly Sheikha Hind's birthday. Speculations suggest Wejdan is also a daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. But how?

I don't understand if Wejdan is a daughter actually and not Sheikha Hind, why is her name not on the list of official children of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid? What is wrong with this family?

She is not a daughter of shiekha hind, she can be a daughter of shiekh Mohammed from another mother or one of the adopted daughters by shiekha hind

I am kind of confused. Mrs_almaktoum from Instagram joined ask.fm where she was asked about her family name and she said it was El shebri & she admitted being a mix of Egyptian and Moroccon blood. She is not a member of a ruling family though. When somebody asked her about her current name, she said that her surname changed to Al Maktoum after her marriage to Sheikh Juma and that she also has a title (everything is in her diplomatic passport). She said she is a sheikha and she posted several pics on Instagram (like the birthday cake) where her name was Shaikha Um Nouf or Shaikha Camelia Al Maktoum

So my question is: do common women can change name to Al Maktoum and become a sheikha?

I found this photo on twitter and this is Camelia with her daughter Nouf. She looks older than 21 though.

I am kind of confused. Mrs_almaktoum from Instagram joined ask.fm where she was asked about her family name and she said it was El shebri & she admitted being a mix of Egyptian and Moroccon blood. She is not a member of a ruling family though. When somebody asked her about her current name, she said that her surname changed to Al Maktoum after her marriage to Sheikh Juma and that she also has a title (everything is in her diplomatic passport). She said she is a sheikha and she posted several pics on Instagram (like the birthday cake) where her name was Shaikha Um Nouf or Shaikha Camelia Al Maktoum

So my question is: do common women can change name to Al Maktoum and become a sheikha?

In UAE it isnt common to change your surname after marriage. Usually, the woman keeps her own surname even if getting married to a man/ to a Shaikh with different family name. But with the marriage to a Shaikh she gets the title Shaikha, even if the lady isnt descended from a ruling family and had not get this title from birth.

Hey, do you know anything more about maitha_m_rashid from Instagram? I assume she is one of the daughters of the late Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Who is she married to? How old is she? How many children does she have and what are their names?

Do all the Ruling families of Dubai have falcon's or into the sport?? I know Dubai has a Falcon hospital for them. Is it a sport all the sheikh's grow up doing??

Falconry is a huge sports in the UAE and the Gulf countries. Falcon hunting is a very old sport/hunting way in the region which goes back over 50 years. There are a few Falcon hospitals in the UAE which are open to anyone who have Falcons.

Do all the Ruling families of Dubai have falcon's or into the sport?? I know Dubai has a Falcon hospital for them. Is it a sport all the sheikh's grow up doing??

One of UAE's oldest traditions is falconry and it dates to past times. In the local dialect it is called "al qanas". Since pre-Islamic times falconry has played a major part in the calendar of Arab life. It is not known exactly when falconry emerged but some history mentions assume that it dates back to 2000 years. It was an integral part of desert life for many centuries, practiced originally for purely practical reasons. In the old times falconry started as means to source for food, and it was to hunt hares and houbara mostly. Much of UAE's history in doing falconry remains cloaked in mystery as our ancestors have left little written records of the historical practice.

Today falconry is an endangered branch of UAE's rich cultural legacy and more of a traditional sport which is practiced by Emiratis and enjoyed by Shaikhs and Non-Shaikhs a like.

Just curious, what official duties will the future wife of sheikh Hamdan hold if she is public?
Would it be something similar to maybe... Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge who accompanies her husband with international duties?

Just curious, what official duties will the future wife of sheikh Hamdan hold if she is public?
Would it be something similar to maybe... Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge who accompanies her husband with international duties?

Something more similar to Sheikha Hind and his sisters, I suppose! Less flashes and media attention, more effective work, some care for privacy too.
Don't get me wrong, I like Catherine, but I can't picture Sheikh Hamdan's wife doing Vogue magazine covers, or calling the entire press for coverage on any charity.

Also, the UAE ruling families seem to have divided roles quite fairly. I see Sheikhas more independent than British royal ladies, when it comes to public duties. While the men take care of governing and politics, the women are involved in social activism, art, culture, charity. You never she a Sheikha "accompanying" the husband on official engagements, but doing some work of her own. Which is great!

Catherine hasn't gained her public duties' independence until recently; she still has very few official engagements to honor on her own.

Less flashes, media attention and privacy. That's sounds so much better then what the BRF have to go through on a daily basis. I see Princess Haya accompanying her husband a lot, maybe future wife may do the same role. Half Sheikha Hind half P.Haya